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Small Cell Lung Cancer

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Book cover Lung Cancer

Part of the book series: Cancer Treatment and Research ((CTAR,volume 170))

Abstract

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive cancer of neuroendocrine origin, which is strongly associated with cigarette smoking. Patients typically present with a short duration of symptoms and frequently (60–65 %) with metastatic disease. SCLC is a heterogeneous disease including extremely chemosensitive and chemoresistant clones. For this reason, a high percentage of patients respond to first-line chemotherapy but rapidly succumb to the disease. SCLC is generally divided into two stages, limited and extensive. Standard treatment of limited stage disease includes combination chemotherapy with cisplatin and etoposide for four cycles, thoracic radiation initiated early with the first cycle of chemotherapy, and consideration of prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) in the subset of patients with good response. Surgery may play a role in TNM stages I and II. In extensive disease, platinum agents and etoposide, used in combination, are again the first-line standard of care in the USA. However, thoracic radiation therapy is used predominately in patients where local control is important and PCI is of uncertain benefit. Despite these treatments, prognosis remains poor and novel therapies are needed to improve survival in this disease.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, One Medical Center Drive, Lebanon, NH, 03756, USA

    Erica B. Bernhardt

  2. Department of Hematology and Oncology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indiana Cancer Pavilion, Suite 473, 535 Barnhill Drive, Indianapolis, IN, 46202-5289, USA

    Shadia I. Jalal

Authors
  1. Erica B. Bernhardt
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  2. Shadia I. Jalal
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Correspondence to Shadia I. Jalal .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Oncology, City of Hope, Duarte, California, USA

    Karen L. Reckamp

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© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

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Bernhardt, E.B., Jalal, S.I. (2016). Small Cell Lung Cancer. In: Reckamp, K. (eds) Lung Cancer. Cancer Treatment and Research, vol 170. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-40389-2_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-40389-2_14

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